~xXx~
CHAPTER 18
My heart stumbled. I was going to kill Leo, and he was ready to die.
I shut my ears with both my hands and collapsed on my knees and recoiled on the ground from the high piercing sound that shook my entire being. I didn't know what to do at that moment or how to restrain myself from it.
"Stop!!... Please stop... Make it stop, Leo..." I cried for mercy. My own hands-on my ears were failing me miserably. It almost made it impossible to hear anything else.
"Try to block it, Aries." Leo was on my side, kneeled beside me.
"O-okay." I struggled to keep it out, trying my hardest not to listen to the haunting song. But the sound was addicting and getting louder.
"AHH...I-I c-can't." I was losing my mental stability. There was no time to second guess. I was moving on the ground, frantically in a distraught way.
I cried, "Help me... please..." It was becoming difficult for me to break free of this spell. I felt my ears bleeding, from the forceful melody.
Leo scooped me off the ground and cradled me protectively into his chest like a baby, restraining me from moving. He started talking to me in my ears.
Despite being aware of the danger, it made it challenging to know whom to believe? Who to listen to and who to trust.
"The first time I saw you, Aries, I was instantly attracted to you in that hailstorm." He said, trying to get me distracted, diverting my mind from the sound.
"You stole my sleep, my peace. Aries, you're the one who stole my heart." He whispered into my ear, and I could not concentrate on the song but to his words. It was nice to listen to a guy talking about his feelings, what he felt for me in my absence.
"Leon used to run in a circle every time I got to touch you. He demanded more, and he pushed me more, so I tried to find reasons to get close to you." He continued talking, wanting me to focus solely on him, on his voice.
"Do you remember our first kiss?" He asked. "Do you, Aries?" Leo asked me again. He was encouraging me to think about the lovely times we had spent together. His tactic was slowly working, expelling the sound. I automatically stopped listening to the much louder menacing sound and started thinking of the kiss. Yeah, my first kiss with Leo was electrifying. I was happy.
Soon, GG appeared out of nowhere and began chanting ancient words repeatedly. Her voice was deep, and her irises rolled back completely.
The sound started to become less intense, and the song began to dissipate slowly, leaving my ear. Then, suddenly I was relieved, silence surrounded me—a space from which the noise has eliminated, and before I could say or move, I collapsed into darkness.
~*~
"This has gotten way too far, GG. I can't let this happen again." Leo said. I woke up from an angry tone but was still slightly dazed from the encounter.
"Simon—this was his way to convey a message to us that he has arrived. I can't wait to get my claws on him. I'll tear him apart—"
"Leo, just calm down. We are talking about Simon here. Everything we say, do or breathe needs the best plan of action. So I encourage you to explore all your options before taking a wild run. After all, your time and resources are limited, so plan them wisely." Xander gave his son a piece of advice.
I stayed still with my eyes closed, listening to their conversation.
I waited for the perfect timing to make my appearance. I didn't want to interrupt all of them, and, also, I was feeling ashamed to face them all at once.
"Leave it to me—I'll formulate some scheme of action that we need to pursue to deal with the crisis." Jedrek pitched in. "I'll go gather the tactical team."
"In the meantime, I'll ask the elderly sorcerer to place a protective dome over us; that way, nothing could cross in or out." GG proposed.
"Can you also cover the perimeter fences with those vines." Leo requested.
"Bloodsucking vines? Sure, why not?" GG said.
"And GG, thank you again for coming so quickly to rescue." Though my eyes close, I know, he said it by hugging her.
"Aww.., what are grandmas for." She patted his back, from the sound it gave out.
"I'm just glad my pup is okay," Nora spoke emotionally. I understood her concern.
I thought to myself, now was the perfect time to enter into the picture, but it felt like I was intruding.
"Leo," I called.
"Aries." Leo came and sat next to me. He took my hand in his, and he watched me with worried eyes.
"Look who's up." GG smiled.
"Thank you, GG," I said politely. Then I looked at everyone and smiled.
Nora, Xander, GG, and Jedrek. The four gems of the Iron Moon Pack were gathered here in my small bedroom; they all were visiting me after what happened today. Things were distress and traumatic for all of us. Though being here terrified me, but I still had to face it.
"I have to get going, hope you feel better soon," Jedrek said. I gave him a weak smile. He bowed his head to everyone before he exited the room.
"How could you be so irresponsible, Aries?" Nora, there was an accusation tone in her voice. She was upset, hurt even. I know she didn't mean to be harsh.
In my mind, I knew that I wasn't at fault, but that didn't stop me from feeling deeply responsible.
"Mom!" Leo yelled.
"You'd have died."
"But I'm not." Leo retorted, angrily.
"She was going to—"
"She was under the influence." He cuts her off.
This argument between the mother and him was distressing, it was happening because of me, and I didn't like that at all.
"I love him. I would never hurt Leo intentionally." I affirmed. Tears were quickly forming in my eyes. Leo's grip on my hand became firm and tense.
"I know, dear, I know it wasn't your fault," Nora looked
